Report: Sixers Offered $30 Million Deal To Manu Ginobili
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's no secret that the Sixers were looking to add some veteran leadership this off-season, but they really took it to a serious level, reportedly.
According to a report, the Sixers made an offer to Spurs guard Manu Ginobili in the range of two years, $30 million.
Ginobili, 38, was on the verge of walking away from the NBA, but decided to return for another season with the only team he has ever played for in the NBA, the Spurs. San Antonio was reportedly going to sign Ginobili for around $10 million, but raised the offer in light of the Sixers number.
Was Ginobili seriously considering playing for the Sixers, or did he maybe use them to work his way to a better deal? That is unclear.
Sixers head coach Brett Brown spent years with Ginobili in San Antonio, watching the key piece to the Spurs' puzzle, help them win multiple championships. It wouldn't be shocking to believe that Brown would see great value in adding one of his old fellow Spurs to the building process in Philadelphia.
At 39 when the season starts, Ginobili would have been mostly a mentor for the Sixers, but with a hole at the shooting guard position, there would have been some minutes for him there.
Last season, Ginobili averaged 9.6 points per game and shot 39.1 percent from beyond the arc in almost 20 minutes a night. Having Ginobili would have been like having another coach on the floor for the Sixers.
It didn't happen, but it would have certainly been fun.
